Dick Zimmerman’s original polaroids taken for the cover of Michael Jackson’s 1982 Thriller album that became one of the world’s best-selling albums will be auctioned off with the copyright

• An almost identical Polaroid photo to the album cover is included in the batch

The original polaroids taken for the cover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album that became one of the world’s best-selling albums will be auctioned off with the copyright.

The five images were taken of the superstar singer by celebrity photographer Dick Zimmerman for the artwork for the 1982 album.

Thriller went on to become one of the world’s best-selling albums, shifting an estimated 70 to 110 million copies sold worldwide.

The picture of Michael Jackson selected for the front cover depicts him laying on a counter wearing a white jacket and trousers and a black top.

An almost identical Polaroid photo is included in the batch of five test pictures taken by Zimmerman for the shoot. 

The picture of Michael Jackson selected for the front cover depicts him laying on a counter wearing a white jacket and trousers and a black top. An almost identical Polaroid photo is included in the batch of five test pictures taken by Zimmerman for the shoot

Michael Jackson with a baby tiger. It is taken from the batch of five test pictures shot by Zimmerman for the shoot

Celebrity photographer Dick Zimmerman poses next to the artwork for the Thriller album

The chosen test photo of Michael Jackson was taken less than a minute before Zimmerman shot the version of the pose that producer Quincy Jones recommended for the legendary album cover.

The other four are alternate cover shots, including him holding a tiger cub, that were never used.

In the pre-digital era, Polaroid test shots were commonly used by professional photographers.

They provided a quick way to preview a scene before committing it to film.

Zimmerman is now selling the five Polaroid photos in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ sale along with the Hasselblad 500ELX camera he used on the day.

The pictures are being sold with copyright, meaning the winning bidder will be able to reproduce them commercially.

Zimmerman recalled Michael Jackson being ‘camera shy and polite’ on the day of the shoot.

He said: ‘I’ve never met anybody quite as polite as Michael. His childlike way was very interesting.

‘Michael didn’t have an ego. He was a very shy individual. But when he took breaks from shooting, he’d stand in front of a large mirror performing dance moves, and he became a different person.

‘He was unusual, almost like from another planet. His maturity showed when he performed.’

Michael Jackson striking a pose wearing white. The pictures are being sold with copyright, meaning the winning bidder will be able to reproduce them commercially

Michael Jackson with a baby tiger. Zimmerman recalled Michael Jackson being ‘camera shy and polite’ on the day of the shoot

Michael Jackson striking a pose in one of the test pictures taken by Zimmerman

Zimmerman said that in spite of Jackson’s electrifying command of any audience while performing onstage, the young star seemed camera-shy at the photo shoot.

He said: ‘Michael had a little trouble confronting the camera, believe it or not. To get his attention off the camera, a tiger cub was brought in. It turned out to be a great diversion for him. His attention went totally to playing with it.’

The Polaroid test photo that helped capture the album cover shot is expected to sell for £15,000 at auction.

The four alternate cover shots, including Jackson with tiger cub, are being sold individually for £5,000 each.

The Hasselblad camera is valued at £15,000.

The sale is being held by Blackwell Auctions of Clearwater, Florida.

Edwin Bailey, of Blackwell Auctions, said: ‘The cultural importance of this collection of images, as well as the camera, truly cannot be overstated.

‘The Thriller cover is one of the most widely distributed and immediately recognizable photographs ever taken. It’s quite a privilege to offer these Polaroids, as well as the camera that captured them.

The Hasselblad medium format camera Zimmerman shot the cover images with

‘All of the items have been held in Dick Zimmerman’s personal collection since 1982 and will make their auction debuts on December 9th.’

A letter of authenticity from Zimmerman accompanies each of the Polaroid photographs and the camera.

Zimmerman added: ‘As an artist, I’m proud to have played a part in creating the best-selling album ever.

‘Undoubtedly, collectors of entertainment memorabilia and celebrity photographs would understand that the test photos and camera from the Thriller shoot are important pieces of music history.

‘Blackwell’s auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bid on them.’

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